Page 51 of High Baller

I make my way over, and I see Tracy seated on the stool doing his school work. “What are you working on?" I ask him as I give my Ma a kiss on the cheek.

"Math," he tells me as I sit next to him to have a look, then he whispers, "You telling Ma today?"

“Yeah." I grab a bottle of water.

"How was training?" Ma asks as she mixes something.

"Hard. Ma, I need to talk to you,” I say. She looks up at Tracy and he goes to get off the stool, but I grab his leg, telling him to sit back down. My ma’s a scary woman, and she might not murder me with a witness around.

"Is it about you finally agreeing to date—”

"Ma." I grind out, telling her that I’m not having this conversation again.

"Fine, what would you like to talk about?"

"You see, the thing is…” I take a sip of my water as my throat dries. "I wanted you to know that... You see... I'm not sure how... I'm going to just... Maybe I'll wait for Jade."

"Spit it out, boy.” Ma snaps in annoyance.

"Trey's dating a white girl," Tracey says in a panic.

“Tracy!" I shout.

"You're dating who?" Ma yells.

"She used the voice, I panicked. Sorry,” Tracy tells me.

"Ma, if you get to know her, you’ll see how great she is. Jade likes her, so does Tracy.” Fuck, my heart is beating way too fast. I knew this was going to happen.

"She's really nice—funny too,” Tracy adds, trying to help me out.

"Sky's wanted to keep it quiet, and if you ask Jade or Derek about her, they both like her."

"Stop," she snaps. I stop talking and look at her. She doesn't look happy. "How long?"

"Five weeks," I answer. I know the questions are coming, and I know that I have to answer them truthfully.

"What does she do?"

"Flight attendant.”

Ma's eyebrow raises as she looks at me. "When do you see her?"

"She'll be back in three weeks."

"Three weeks?"

"Yes, she's in New York, then back to England, then Chicago, back to England than here to LA”

"That's a long time. It won't last."

“Ma, it'll last, I'm going to make—"

"It won't last!" Her eyes lock with mine, and I know I need to stop talking. She's made her mind up and thinks that things will pass with Sky, and we'll break up.

I turn to the door as Jade and Sean walk in. They're a little late, so Ma won't even listen to them now. As I greet them, Jade gives me a look, and I shake my head, telling her not to say anything.

"She'll come around. I'll talk to her,” Jade tells me.